$2M in cocaine seized in Operation Lone Star traffic stop in South Texas

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Texas Department of Public Safety troopers seized over 200 pounds of cocaine during a truck traffic stop in South Texas as part of the state’s Operation Lone Star border security initiative, the agency said Friday.

The seizure of 98 kilos, or 216 pounds of cocaine, occurred Tuesday in the border town of Weslaco. DPS says troopers stopped a tractor-trailer “and discovered 90 cellophane-wrapped bundles of cocaine concealed inside a pallet of dried goods in the cargo area,” DPS said Friday.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $2 million, the agency said.

Agents from the DPS Criminal Investigations Division then went to a residence in McAllen, where they said they found three AR-15 rifles and an AK-47.

Francisco Marquez-Carretero, Tania Rodriguez-Hernandez and Christian Martinez Caudillo, all from Mission, Texas, were arrested and sent to the Hidalgo County Jail. They face criminal charges for manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance.

Operation Lone Star is a state-funded border security initiative started in 2021 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that uses Texas DPS troopers and Texas National Guard and guard soldiers from other states along the border.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.